La Catedral siege

The La Catedral siege occurred on 22 July 1992 when the Colombian Army was dispatched to move Pablo Escobar from his La Catedral "prison" to a conventional prison, ostensibly to guarantee his safety from his rivals as La Catedral was fortified. However, Escobar knew that he was going to be sent to a real prison, where he would be powerless, and he took President Cesar Gaviria's security chief Eduardo Sandoval hostage. Special forces were required to storm La Catedral, but Escobar managed to escape.

Background
In 1991, Medellin Cartel boss Pablo Escobar agreed to cease his campaign of bombings and assassinations against the Colombian government in exchange for being allowed to stay in a jail that he would build. This "prison", La Catedral, was more of a fortress and a resort, as he was guarded by his own men, and no planes or policemen were allowed within four kilometers of La Catedral. Escobar had free rein within the walls of his fortress, and the American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sought to prove that he was violating his surrender terms. When Escobar murdered his treacherous lieutenants Gerardo Moncada and Fernando Galeano within the prison walls, the news reported these rumors, leading to President Cesar Gaviria being advised to move Escobar out of the prison. His adviser Eduardo Sandoval advised him to move Escobar to a conventional prison, where he would have no power. Another adviser told him that he could pretend to be moving Escobar for security reasons as La Catedral was fortified, and Gaviria decided to send General Ariza and the Fourth Brigade to move Escobar.

The siege
The Colombian Army trucks moved along the main road, and Escobar's wife Maria Henao called him to warn him of the army's arrival. The trucks stopped at the gates of the prison, and a robed Escobar looked down at the trucks and ordered his men to gather their weapons and prepare for a fight. General Ariza told his men that Lieutenant Dominguez would lead the men, and he gave him the authorization to shoot at the enemy if the soldiers were fired upon. The police formed a perimeter around the building, and the United States' Mil Group closely monitored the situation. That night, Escobar ordered his guards to fire on anyone who tried to enter the building, and his henchman "Blackie" told Escobar that President Gaviria sent Eduardo Sandoval to negotiate with him. Sandoval was taken hostage by Escobar, who knew that he was lying when he explained the false reasons for him being moved, and Sandoval was sent to negotiate with Gaviria. Gaviria refused to be Escobar's puppet again, and he sent special forces to storm the building. They rescued Sandoval and killed several of Escobar's men, but Escobar escaped into the jungle alone, albeit more vulnerable.